The folk at at  Spare Change News are the ones  who got the State House News story out first about the tinyest possiblity that the Governer’s budget may — just may — include some revenue measures.  We particulary appreciate the image of the our good, decent hardworking Secretary of Admininstration and Finance “warding off ” advocates who want to begin to repair and restore the public  programs that keep our communities strong.
I wouldn’t get between him and a demonstration of homeless advocates.
Gonzalez said the governor’s budget, due for release on Jan. 25, would include “what we believe to be appropriate, responsible onetime resources” and “modest” revenue increases, although he declined to offer specifics. He said he has warded off demands from interest groups seeking funding increases.
“What I tell all of them is, their expectations are out of line with our budget reality and our new fiscal reality,” he said.
Gonzalez’s remarks indicate that discretionary programs – from environmental protection initiatives to human services and local aid for cities and towns – which have absorbed an onslaught of budget cuts in recent years, will face stiff competition to fend off budget reductions and reverse years of cuts.